The meeting was co-chaired by the Minister of Economic Development and Technology Krzysztof Paszyk and the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for National Unity of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov. The meeting was held on 13 March 2025 in Warsaw.

The importance of dialogue between Poland and Ukraine

The Deputy Head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Adam Nowak stressed the importance of intense dialogue in the agricultural sector, implemented at both national and EU levels. He noted that several ministerial meetings had been held since the last meeting of the Commission.

– As particularly valuable, we should consider the meetings of the Ministers of agriculture of Poland and Ukraine with the participation of agricultural organisations. In 2024, 3 meetings were held in such a broad formula. Other meetings are planned – announced Deputy Minister Nowak.

The need to balance bilateral agri-food trade

The Undersecretary of State Adam Nowak stressed that cooperation between our countries should be constructive and bring mutual benefits. In this context, he pointed to the need to balance bilateral trade in agri-food goods. He also requested the Ukrainian party to recognise the regionalisation of the territory of Poland for bluetongue, pursuant to the rules applicable in the EU.

– This measure would be reasonable, particularly in the light of Ukraine’s work on adjusting the Ukrainian legislation to the EU legislation – stressed Deputy Minister Nowak.

The demand of the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Agriculture was upheld by the Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer Jakub Kubacki. He also stressed the existing good cooperation of veterinary services of Poland and Ukraine.

The Undersecretary of State Adam Nowak reminded that on 5 June 2025 autonomous trade measures (ATM) for Ukraine would expire. The head of the Polish delegation expressed hope for working out such conditions for further trade that would be acceptable to all parties, including Poland, Ukraine and the European Commission.

The opinion of the Agricultural Chambers

The President of the Board of the National Council of Agricultural Chambers, Wiktor Szmulewicz, present at the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission, recalled the concerns of Polish farmers with respect to the inflow of goods from Ukraine. At the same time, he expressed his hope for a constructive dialogue with the Ukrainian party.

Ukrainian party on the agricultural relations between Poland and Ukraine

The Deputy Minister Taras Vysotsky had a very positive opinion on the existing, very intense contacts between the Ministries of Agriculture of both countries. He informed that the Polish and Ukrainian veterinary services remained in ongoing contact, among others, as regards the issue of restrictions related to bluetongue. He emphasised that undisturbed bilateral trade relations remained a priority for the Ukrainian party, also after 5 June 2025. Moreover, he expressed his hope for fruitful cooperation on that issue. He informed that currently about 85% of Ukrainian agri-food goods were exported via the Black Sea.

The Ukrainian Deputy Minister thanked for the opportunity for the Ukrainian officials to participate in a training project concerning adapting the agri-food sector to the EU requirements. The project was implemented by the Polish Ministry of Agriculture in 2024 in Kraków. Its originator was the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Czesław Siekierski.

The state of cooperation in agricultural matters between Poland and Ukraine

Agricultural relations are an important element of economic cooperation between Poland and Ukraine. The dialogue with the Ukrainian party, implemented by the Polish Ministry of Agriculture, focuses mainly on trade conditions, with particular consideration given to sectors sensitive for Poland.

In the period from December 2023 to December 2024, the management of the Ministry of Agriculture held 19 meetings with partners from Ukraine, including talks with the participation of representatives of industry organisations from both countries.